Tourists’ fury at Bangkok’s red light district shutting as they mourn death of Thailand’s King

UK TOURISTS travelling to Thailand for a holiday have been confronted with empty streets and shops closed for business as the country is consumed by a time of mourning.

The country, usually known as a place of escape for tourists and its wild red light district wildlife, has shut down business and limited the sale of alcohol as it begins its one year of mourning the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Now UK tourists, including 23-year-old Liam Pearce, are facing a holiday with little to do as businesses continue to be closed.

Due to fly to Thailand for a two week holiday next Thursday, the North Wales local said: “It couldn’t have happened at a worse time.

“I’ve already booked the flights, paid for hotels and changed money so there’s no chance of changing it.”

The steel erector that his friends who had already arrived in Thailand had told him the only places open at night were pharmacies.

The 88-year-old monarch had been on the throne for 70 years, with his passing seeing many Thai people don black and white clothing as a sign of mourning.

The UK foreign office has released advice to travellers, saying: “You should respect the feelings and sensitivities of the Thai people at this time.

“Particularly during the first 30 days of the mourning period, some entertainment venues, including restaurants, bars, and clubs may be closed or operating on restricted hours.

“You should wear dark-coloured sombre and respectful clothing when in public and behave respectfully when in public areas.”

The country’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej had been on the throne for 70 years, with anyone who insults the late monarch potentially punished with up to 15 years in prison.

Brit tourists have since been warned not to visit Thailand with some bars like G-Spot appearing to be closed and only accessible behind doorway curtains.

Sugar Baby Ago-go club was one of many closed completely in respect to the late monarch, with others including Red Square, Alcatraz, Fahrenheit and Peppermint all having their lights switched off.

The empty streets are a stark contrast to the normally heaving night-life in Thailand, and particularly in Bangkok’s red light zones

The go-go bars, which are usually packed with scantily-clad women, have been closed out of respect to the country’s king.

One masseuse reportedly said the time of mourning had meant businesses were facing one of the quietest nights they could remember.

Most of the bright neon lights have also been dimmed.

In further information released by the Thai government, (TAT) has advised visitors to refrain from conducting any “inappropriate or disrespectul behaviour”.

Tourist attractions, with the exception of Wat Phra Kaeo (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and the Grand Buddha, will be open.

It has been reported that some of the bars were open, but kept quiet with their doors covered in curtains and little music heard to be playing in the street.

Alcohol sales have been stopped at a variety of supermarkets for three days following the passing of the King.

Some events, including the International Fireworks Festival, have also been cancelled.

The warnings come after Aussie fans were arrested by police after stripping to their speedos after the Malaysian Formula One race.

The men were criticised by Malaysian authorities, with the country’s Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed saying: “We open our doors to tourists, we try to treat them as well as we can, sometimes even better than our own people.

“But when they come here with the intention to commit indecent acts to embarrass us I think that’s not how visitors should respond to our good treatment.”

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